As Europe hots up, don’t waste your time fighting for a spare scrap of sand. Rather pick a hotel with a private playa and drop and flop at your leisure. It’s your holiday, after all.
This article was taken from the August/September 2019 issue of Food and Travel. To subscribe today, click here.
Whether you close your eyes and listen to the Aegean waves
lapping the sand, or keep them open and soak up views of the
islands in the bay, you’re guaranteed a relaxing time on this
five-star hotel’s private beach. A cordoned off swimming area,
terracotta-coloured sunbeds and straw parasols all contribute
to your comfort, while La Plage Restaurant is a stylish haven
of wicker and wooden details, where plates of mouthwatering
meze are served throughout the day. Although it has only been
open for two summers, Caresse has quickly become one of the
pre-eminent hotels on the Bodrum Peninsula. Its 77 rooms
combine mid-century furniture with a marine palette and most
have balconies with sea views.
Doubles from £345. caresse.com
Famed for its crystalline water, the Gulf of Mirabello is ideal for
scuba diving; if you can tear yourself away from the beach, that
is. Space is rather limited on this private stretch, so there are
never more than two rows of beds, making sun-worshiping as peaceful as possible. Whether you choose the pocket-sized
sandy cove or one of the long ledges of the smooth rock, pretty
landscaped gardens with multi-tiered swimming pools provide
the backdrop. Tuck into sushi and sophisticated cocktails at The
Blue Bay Restaurant and don’t miss the thrice-weekly open-air
cinema nights. Accommodation includes villas, suites and
standard doubles, all generous in size and luxuriously furnished.
Doubles from £362. stnicolasbay.gr
Sand as fine as sugar, turquoise water and gentle breezes blowing off the Estérel mountains make Les Pêcheurs a
fabulous beach, but it’s even more impressive given how rare
it is for a hotel to actually own a stretch of coastline in France.
Enjoy a glass of crisp Rosé de Provence at the Beach Bar while
watching the yachts slide past on the horizon, then head to Le
Cap Restaurant where you can feast on plates designed by
Michelin-starred chef Nicolas Rodnelli. Where possible, all
seafood is sourced from neighbouring bay Port du Crouton, so
look out for anchovies, cod and prawns. Once the playground of the Lost Generation, including Ernest Hemingway and
F Scott Fitzgerald, this six-kilometre long peninsula half way
between Cannes and Nice has more than its fair share of luxe
hotels, but Cap d’Antibes Beach Hotel is arguably the most
exclusive of the lot. Futuristic buildings house 35 bedrooms
with playful interiors, many of which were created by
renowned designer Sybille de Margeri. Expect natural
materials, a cool palette with whimsical pops of colour and large
private terraces that cry out as the perfect spot for sundowners.
Doubles from £340. ca-beachhotel.com
Aptly named Paradise Bay is a breathtaking horseshoe of inky
water with two magnificent beaches, both owned by Mandarin
Oriental. This was the group’s first beach resort and it has been
completed with their trademark aplomb. Tonnes of powdery
sand imported from the Black Sea remain cool enough to walk
on even in the midst of summer’s big burn and the water is
exceptionally clear. At 2.5km long, Blue Beach is the larger of the two. It boasts private cabanas, a swimming deck, and the
Blue Beach Club and Bar, which serves rich ice cream made
from scratch to the sound of gentle lounge music. The Sands
beach is quieter and less structured, with simple sun beds and
parasols. The hotel cascades down a steep hillside towards the
sea, so Aegean views are guaranteed from almost every room.
Choose from 95 suites, or stay longer and go for your own villa
or apartment. Including everything from pine forests to formal
gardens, the grounds are home to around 1 million plants and
the botanical theme continues inside, with leafy shrubs in the
impressive public spaces and open air spa treatment rooms.
Doubles from £364. mandarinoriental.com
Arriving at a private beach by boat sounds James Bond-level
glamorous, which in Cala di Volpe’s case is very appropriate,
because scenes from The Spy Who Loved Me were filmed at the
hotel. The clandestine swathe of champagne-coloured sand
may only be a 15-minute stroll away, but with boats leaving
every half an hour it seems churlish not to take one. Screened
from view by lush scrub and fragrant oleander trees and with
fewer than 40 beds scattered across, this beach is as private as
it gets. The hotel is located on the exclusive Costa Smeralda
(Emerald Coast), famed for its sparkling, aquamarine water
which makes for beautiful swimming. Arrange a boat trip from
the hotel to the La Maddalena archipelago, some of Sardinia’s
most beautiful and least visited islands. A true grand dame,
Hotel Cala di Volpe has developed its own unqique brand of
luxury which nods to Sardinia’s rural past. Ceilings are roughly
hewn rock, a reference to the network of caves which lies
beneath the island, much of the furniture is hand carved by
local craftsmen and bathrooms gleam with colourful Cerasarda
tiles, a local trademark.
Doubles from £260. caladivolpe.com
You’d be hard pushed to find a more secluded beach than the one at Hôtel & Spa des Pêcheurs on petite private island, Cavallo, in the Bouches de Bonifacio – the straight between Corsica and Sardinia. Tucked away from the French riviera crowds, this is the place to enjoy some solid R&R. Surrounding the hotel – the only one in the Lavezzi archipelago – glistening turquoise inlets from the Med ripple up to a stretch of pink-tinged sand shrouded by myrtle and juniper trees. Ideal for bona fide sun-worshippers, only sheltered wooden cabins protect you from the elements – the island’s status as a natural marine reserve forbids the use of parasols, providing a different aesthetic from the usual drop and flop break. Luckily, sunbeds sprawl far enough apart so as not to feel revealed. Later, evocative seaviews come as standard at the beachside bar, the perfect spot to enjoy the blazing red sunset over an aperitif before dining on delicious Italian French cuisine befitting to the locale. Elsewhere, bedrooms combine modern touches with traditional design, and there are tennis courts and a golf course.
Doubles from £270. hoteldespecheurs.com
Summer isn’t complete without a trip to the British seaside.
You can expect a significant upgrade on the bucket-and-spade
brigade at this luxury boutique hotel on the Cornish coast, five
miles from St Mawes. Its position on the Roseland Peninsula
sees a unique climate driven by the Gulf Stream that promises
warm days and plays a role in creating the lush gardens. From
the hotel, a short trundle downhill will bring you to the private
swathe of sand. Explore the cove and rock pools, or simply head
for a reviving dip in the sea. You could opt for kayaking, or simply
grab a picnic and enjoy the scenery. Offering 15 bedrooms and a terrace, you’ll drift away on the wind of simple elegance that
wafts through the hotel. The vibe is informal and easy with the
spirit of New England in its design such as its blue weatherboard
facade. Opt to book the Cabin if you want a bit more privacy; it
has two bedrooms and a lounge with views across the bay. For
supper, chef Chris Eden’s Michelin-starred dining room serves
up plates using fish from Cornish waters, foraged herbs and
flowers, and locally reared meat. Slightly more sophisticated
than a bag of fish and chips and a ‘99’ (though both have their
place).
Doubles from £215. driftwoodhotel.co.uk
A staggering 16 exclusive beaches vie for your attention at this blinding resort, which sits pretty on a 29-hectare private
peninsula along the Athenian Riviera. Don your biggest shades
and take time to explore the lot; three have been awarded Blue
Flag status this year. Whether it’s sweeping stretches made for
long walks with the sand between your toes, umbrella-specked
slivers or clandestine nooks you’re after, dramatic views across
the Saronic Gulf that unfurls beyond come as standard. At
Grand Beach each nautical-style lounger comes armed with
a handy button to call your waiter to prompt a cocktail or a few
plates of meze. If the heat of the day gets a tad overbearing, opt
for a dip in the pool, which juts out from the sand and seemingly
perches on the sea. You’ll also be able to get in a game of beach
volleyball and take to the waters with activities like diving,
water skiing and sailing. All of which promise to leave you
sun-kissed and exhilarated. The 276 bedrooms boast seaviews
across the board meaning you’ll nod off to the gentle sound of
the waves.
Doubles from £275. lagonissiresort.gr
Slide off the sandals and feel Spanish sand crumble beneath your feet as the Atlantic Ocean expands in front of you like
a sheet of glass into the nearby islands of Los Lobos and
Lanzarote. Gran Hotel Atlantis Bahía Real boasts a white sand
beach with sun-kissed dunes, a stone’s throw from Corralejo
National Park. Head to Coco Beach Chill Out, where Balinese
beds draped in white muslin beckon and staff will keep you
refreshed with a steady stream of seafood snacks. Attention to
detail is an understatement, as the resort prides itself on
personalised services right down to where you’ll snag your next
salt-rim margarita at one of the six fine-dining restaurants.
Embrace a beachside siesta, evening fiesta, or both, as this
turquoise gem provides all the daytime seaweed wraps and
night-time salsa dancing you can get your hands on. Shake off
the sand and retire to one of 242 luxurious Mediterranean
accommodations, complete with eggshell-tiled floors, and, of course, a seaside-sunset view to watch the tide roll in.
Doubles from £236. atlantisbahiareal.com
On a romantic stretch of the Bay of Mazzarò on Sicily’s east coast, you’ll find a secluded beach bursting with old-school riviera charm. Framed by tropical gardens the crystal-clear Ionian Sea kisses its shore, crisp white parasols punctuate the sand like pop art, and an inviting infinity pool trickles over its edge to meet the fishermen’s boats bobbing below. There’s the promise of lazy days in the sun-dappled private cabanas with waiter service, sunbeds and a shaded seating area laden with fresh fruit and a fully-stocked minibar. Dine at the sea’s edge on the likes of mozzarella and tomato salad and fresh fish from restaurant Oliviero, then make like a local and explore the hidden coves carved into the bay on a paddle board – don’t forget to take a complimentary snorkel, the area’s teaming with marine life – before returning to the beach bar for an Aperol spritz. Come evening, the 68 bedrooms are modern and elegant; plump for a superior suite for dreamy panoramas over the quiet beach.
Doubles from £490. belmond.com
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